How does being in SMP impact my desire to go AD via ROTC?

Great question (Join to see). With SMP, you participate in both the Guard and your college's ROTC program at the same time. During this two to four year course, you'll be paired with and mentored by a unit officer. In some instances you will be the acting platoon leader of a real platoon gaining unparalleled experience over your peers. More information on this program can be found at:
https://www.nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpAUYNdZlVs

You would also benefit in pay. If you are SMP you get your ROTC stipend (350-500), drill pay at E-5 rate (350-500), and your GI bill (approximately +/- $380). That's over $1K a month to participate in ROTC and go to class. To put icing on the cake, your time in service will get you paid at a higher rate. Base pay for a 2LT with zero time in service is ($3,107.70/mo). Base pay for 2LT with over 2 years is ($3,234.90), +3 ($3910.20). You'll be making about $10k more a year than your non prior service counterparts upon coming on active duty.

There is a misconception that if you are a scholarship recipient that you are guaranteed active duty, or if you participate in SMP, you cannot go AD. This is NOT true, and the only time you cannot switch from guard to AD is if you signed a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) contract for a bonus. The order of merit list which determines your component and branch is based off of GPA, leadership potential, APFT score, and voluntary contributions to the organization via extracurricular activities, not scholarship status. I was SMP and graduated at the top of my class and went on Active Duty immediately along with my choice of branch and post. More than half of the scholarship recipients didn't even make AD.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me or the Rutgers' ROTC Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO). Good luck!

Of course my commissioning and SMP time were over 30 years ago, so my information may be dated. I joined ROTC in 1982 and liked it so much that I joined the Guard in 1983 and then became an SMP cadet in 1984 when I contracted my junior year. I believe my training in the Guard was invaluable to my active duty time. I was a CEV crewman in the Guard, and was commissioned in 1986 as an active duty armor officer. I trained on M1 tanks, but my unit still had M60A3 tanks. Because of the commonality between the CEV and A3, I wasn't a newbie LT on the tank. I had three years experience on the vehicle type.

When I joined the Guard, I knew I wanted to go on active duty. I saw it as just a stepping stone in my career. Although I admit that I didn't think I would stay on active duty for over 24 years. I do not know if it helped me get on active duty or not. I do know it helped make me a better ROTC cadet, which in turn probably helped me get on active duty.

I do know that when I did my AC/RC assignment as a captain, being a former Guardsman helped reserve units be more receptive of my presence and I didn't come in like a bull in a China shop when doing annual training evaluations.

A couple of advantages the National Guard SMP offers. The first is that many states will pay your tuition to an in state public college. The other is that when you start the SMP program, you will get paid as an E-5 for Drills and AT. In the Guard or Reserve SMP Program, you will not lose any Time In Service while in ROTC. You will also be eligible for the GI Bill.
No, while you can get a guaranteed National Guard contract, it isn't required. Active duty depends on your standing in the class and just what is available at that time in the Regular Army.
Also, an Army MOS will exempt you from the first two years of ROTC.